Sizer Out & Back Was Most Definitely a Challenge

Our group decided to do Sizer as an out and back to skip the dreaded “Shortcut,” but it was still quite a tough hike, with nearly 10 hours on the trail. We started with fog at Coe HQ. Our favorite section of the hike was the Jackass Hill Trail as it wound through the manzanitas and the views really started to open up. By the time we reached Blue Ridge, we had blue skies and strong gusty winds. The views from the top were nice, but we didn’t have the awestruck feeling you often have when reaching a summit. The descent was pleasant, and then we reached the hardest part, getting back UP Poverty Flat Road. The Forest Trail toward the end was a nice break from the roads, but by then, we were ready to be done. One of the things I most enjoyed about this hike was getting to some of the remote parts of Henry Coe Park and seeing those vast open spaces from the ridges.